Date February 25, 1991

Title of Project Growth Regulator Effects in Seed Propagated Begonia x Tuberhybrida

Institution where work is being conducted University of Alaska-Fairbanks

Amount of Endowment Grant $ 4,500
Covering Period 01/91 to 12/91

Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report Fall-1991

Individual(s) Conducting Project:

(List Project Leader First)

Meriam G. Karlsson - Title Assistant Professor

Telephone Number (907) 474-7005

Growth Regulator Effects in Seed Propagated Begonia x Tuberhybrida

Meriam G. Karlsson

University of Alaska-Fairbanks

Progress Report to the American Floral Endowment, 2/25/91

A. Project Objectives:

To determine the effects of treatments with Cycocel (chlormequat), B-Nine

(daminozide), Bonzi (paclobutrazol) and Bayleton (triadimefon) on morphology and

developmental rate of seed propagated Begonia x tuberhybrida.

To study the post-production performance of growth regulator treated B. x

tuberhybrida plants.

B. Summary of Work Conducted:

Seedlings of B. x tuberhybrida ‘Musical Orange’ and ‘Clips Orange’ were

transplanted into 10 cm pots filled with a peat-lite medium, six weeks after seeding. The

plants were grown at 20 ¬± 2′C day and 18 ¬± 2′C night temperatures, and a day length of 16

hours at 100 umol*m-2*s-1 (5.8 mol*day-1*m-2). Plants were treated two weeks after

transplanting at application rates of 500 or 1,000 ppm Cycocel, 2,000 or 3,000 ppm B-Nine,

5 or 10 ppm Bonzi, and 375 or 750 mg/liter Bayleton. Plants receiving two applications

were treated the second time one week after the first application. Plant height and leaf

number were recorded at weekly intervals.

C. Results to Date:

Seven weeks from time of application, plants treated with any rate or frequency of

the tested growth regulators were shorter than the control plants. Begonias treated with

Bonzi were on average about 70% shorter, Cycocel and Bayleton treated plants about 50%

shorter and B-Nine treated plants about 20% shorter compared to the height of the control

plants.

D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:

Morphology and dry weight will be recorded 14 weeks after transplant on half of the

plants in each treatment. The remaining plants will be placed in a post-production

environment and evaluated for continued performance.

E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:

The seed propagated cultivars of B. x tuberhybrida have become popular during the

1980s as potted plants, bedding plants and hanging baskets. Although temperature

manipulations can and are being used to control height in many plants, there is still a need

for growth regulators. Many of the growth regulator recommendations for seed propagated

tuberous begonia have been based on results with Begonia x hiemalis (hiemalis begonia,

Rieger begonia or elatior begonia) despite the large production of B. x tuberhybrida. The

effects of growth regulators on rate of development, morphology and post-production

performance for seed propagated cultivars, of B. x tuberhybrida need to be determined to

establish reliable recommendations for commercial production.

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